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Musicians
Showcase 1091 (2003); Senku: Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent; William Chapman Nyaho, piano
a Margaret Allison Bonds
Troubled Water
b Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Deep
River
c R. Nathaniel Dett
In the Bottoms Suite
1 Prelude: Night
2
His Song
3
Honey: Humoresque
4
Barcarolle: Morning
5
Dance: Juba
d Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Scherzo
2 MSR Classics MS 1242
(2008); ASA: Piano Music by Composers of
African Descent; William Chapman Nyaho, piano
a Ludovic Lamothe
La Dangereuse
b Amadeo Roldán y Gardes
Preludio Cubano
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1 Birth |
The classical pianist and professor
William H. Chapman Nyaho was born in Washington, D.C. on
Dec. 28, 1958, but when he was only ten months old his
parents returned to their native Ghana with him. He grew
up there and graduated from Ghana's Achimota School
after studying piano with John Barham.
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2 Music Studies |
Nyaho received his B.A. in Music from
Oxford University in the U.K. After studies in piano at
the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland, and
with Henri Gautier, he earned a Master of Music degree
at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
Nyaho studied with David Renner at the University of
Texas at Austin, where he received his Doctoral degree
in Music.
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3 Professor |
Following a four-year residency as a
North Carolina Visiting Artist, Nyaho taught at the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 1991-2002. He
has performed as a soloist in Africa, Europe, the
Caribbean and North America. He also plays chamber music
as part of the Nyaho/Garcia Duo. His Web site for both
solo and duo activities is:
www.nyaho.com
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4
Senku |
The CD Senku: Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent, Musicians Showcase
Recordings 1091 (2003) is comprised of solo piano works
by eight composers. The program opens with Talking Drums
(14:56) by Joshua Uzoigwe (b. 1946) of Nigeria. Jamaican
Oswald Russell (b. 1933) is represented next by Three
Jamaican Dances (5:25). The music continues with Scherzo
(9:42) by the U.S. composer Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
(1932-2004). Next is Deep River (6:20) by the
Afro-British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(1875-1912). Margaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972), an
African American composer, is then represented by her
signature work, Troubled Water (4:52). Variations on an
Egyptian Folksong (6:21) is the next work, by Gamal
Abdel-Rahim (1924-1988). It is followed by In The
Bottoms Suite (16:24), by the Canadian-born African
American composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943). For the
final work the program returns to Africa, for
Earthbeats, Op. 22 (9:29) by Gyimah Labi (b. 1950) of
Ghana. The liner notes are by the poet Maya Angelou, a
mentor to the pianist. Brief
audio samples of all eight tracks can be heard at:
www.nyaho.com/senku.cfm
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5 Gramophone Review |
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Donald
Rosenberg wrote a review of Senku for the March 2004
issue of Gramophone, One theme but many styles, all
illuminated by some fine playing. He writes that
"senku" is a Ghanian word referring to a keyboard
instrument. Rosenberg also remarks:
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As
played with superior expressivity, rhythmic vivacity and kaleidoscopic shading by William Chapman Nyaho, the music speaks in many different, stimulating tongues, embracing Western
traditions as well as sonic elements influenced
by
African and American sources.
The
composers represented here here hail from
Nigeria, Jamaica, England, Egypt, Ghana and the
United States. Even so, their styles are woven
from
such diverse and fascinating musical cloth that
it
can be possible to discern distinctive national
idioms. That is part of the beauty of Nyaho's
programme, a group of dynamic and often
ineffably
beautiful works deserving wider dissemination.
The
most familiar genre is the spiritual, which
Samuel
Coleridge-Taylor employs with heartfelt expertise in
his Deep River and which also animates
the
conflicting fervour in Margaret Bonds's bracing
Troubled Water.
Folklorism gives refreshing life to Joshua
Uzoigwe's Talking Drums, which blend un-hackneyed
minimalist gestures with percussive vitality.
Oswald Russell's Three Jamaican Dances
abound
in exuberant and endearing spirits, while Gamal
Abdel-Rahim's Variations on an Egyptian
Folksong
look to the Middle East with a classical
personality
that overflows with almost Brahmsian flair. And
if R
Nathaniel Dett's In the bottoms suite is
a masterful
evocation of populist forms, Ghanaian composer
Gyimah Labi's pulsating Earthbeats
reflects African
culture with a harmonic pungency and rhythmic
energy that Bartok might have appreciated.
The
humanity of the music and Nyaho's gripping
performances kept my ears glued to this disc.
Let's
hope the pianist continues to explore - and
record -
more such commanding repertoire.
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6
Aaron
Copland: Music for Two Pianos |
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The
Nyaho/Garcia Duo is committed to performing music of
composers of African or Hispanic heritage, as well works
of contemporary, American and women composers. The Duo
has a recording to its credit as well: Aaron Copland:
Music for Two Pianos, Centaur 2405 (1998). The
tracks include El Salon México, Rodeo
selections, Dance of the Adolescent, Danza de
Jalisco, Variations on a Shaker Melody,
Danzon Cubano and Billy the Kid (arranged
from suite from the ballet). Nyaho's Web site has this
to say of the CD:
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In
November 1998, Nyaho and Garcia released their
first compact disc recording of the complete
transcriptions of Aaron Copland for two pianos
for
Centaur Records. Classical Magazine wrote then
that the duo, "form a perfect match in their
style of
playing, their tone, and in their genuine
feeling for
and understanding of the Copland pieces... This
CD
will be the standard against which any futures
performances of these dances will be measured."
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7 Residency |
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Nyaho has
been heavily involved in residency activities at a
variety of levels and in a wide range of settings,
including schools, colleges and community centers. His
Web site elaborates:
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Nyaho has served as a guest lecturer on piano
technique and on specific composers, offered
numerous master classes and specialized activities
for students, and traveled into countless
schools to
wring unexpectedly beautiful music from dubious
cafeteria pianos. |
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8
Africa
Meets Asia |
An example of the
symposiums in which Nyaho participates is Africa
Meets Asia, which was held at the Central Conservatory of
Music, Beijing, China in October 2005. He performed both solo and duo piano works during the
program.
9 Dance
The Jamaican
choreographer Garth Fagan is Founder and Artistic
Director of Garth Fagan Dance, an innovative dance
company in its 35th season. Its website is:
www.garthfagandance.org
Fagan's many awards
include a 1998 Tony Award for Best Choreography, for his
work on The Lion King. In September of
2006, Nyaho announced that Garth Fagan was
choreographing music from his CD Senku: Piano Music
by Composers of African Descent. A world
premiere of a dance and live piano performance was
scheduled for October 17, 2006 at the Joyce Theater in
New York. Additional live performances of the
program were scheduled for Rochester, New York, where
Garth Fagan Dance is based. |
10 Anthology -
Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora
Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma
http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com
William Chapman Nyaho, eminent scholar and pianist, resident of
Seattle, is native of Ghana. He secured his education at Oxford
University, the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, the Eastman
School of Music, and the University of Texas-Austin. He has
served on the faculties of the College of Maine and Williamette
University. In addition to concerts and lectures in Europe,
North America, the Caribbean, South America and Africa, Dr.
Nyaho is active as a member of the Nyaho/Garcia Duo. His
five-volume anthology, Piano music of Africa and the African
Diaspora, is a graded collection of music by two centuries
of composers from Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Haiti,
Cuba, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic, China,
Canada, and the United States, and includs out-of-print classics
as well as works never before published. They offer the door to
a new aesthetic with challenges for the venturesome novice as
well as the concert artist. Because the concepts might be new
to the teacher and student, this reference to the publication
and CD recording may facilitate this introduction and provide
repertoire innovations for the classroom, radio, and recital.
It should also provide a stimulus for the recording of new
works.
Nyaho,
William H. Chapman. Piano music of Africa and the African
diaspora. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007-2208.
Five volumes. ISBN 978-0-19-386823-6. Foreword by
Dominique-René de Lerma, preface and biographical notes by
William Chapman Nyaho.
Abdel-Rahim, Gamal, 1924-1988.
Egypt.
Variations on an Egyptian folksong.
vIIIn13.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1091 (Senku; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Adams, H. Leslie, 1932-.
US.
12 etudes for piano. Etude, C-sharp minor.
vVn3.
Maria Corley. Albany TROY 639 (2004).
Alberga, Eleanor, 1948-.
Jamaica-UK.
If the silver bird could speak.
vIIn17.
Thalia Myers. NMC 0057 (1999, Spectrum; 50 contemporary
works for solo piano).
Almeida, Laurindo, 1917-1995.
Brazil.
Lament in tremolo form.
vIIn1.
Alston, Lettie Beckon, 1953-.
US.
Rhapsody, no. 4.
vVn7.
Lettie Beckon Alston. Albany TROY 439 (2001, Keyboard music
by Lettie Beckon Alston).
Bland, Ed, 1926-.
US.
Cell phone blues.
vIIIn11.
Bonds, Margaret, 1917-1972.
US.
Spiritual suite. Troubled water.
vIVn5.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1091 (Senku; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Maria Corley. Albany Troy 857 (2006,
Soulscapes: Piano music by African American women).
Althea Waites. Cambria CD 1097 (1987, Althea Waites plays
music by African American composers).
Capers, Valerie,1936-.
US.
Portraits in jazz. Sweet Mr. Jelly Roll.
vIn9.
Portraits in jazz. The Monk.
vIn11.
Maria Corley. Albany TROY 857 (2006,
Piano music by African American women).
Cheatham, Wallace McClain, 1945-.
US.
Three preludes.
Prelude, no.2, Poor mourner's got a home. vIIn6.
Three preludes. 3. Didn't it rain?
vIIIn6.
Three preludes. Prelude, no. 1, Joshua fit the
battle of Jericho.
vIIn5.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel, 1875-1912.
England.
24 Negro melodies, op. 59. Deep river.
vIIIn2.
24 Negro melodies, op. 59.
The bamboula. vVn1.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1091 (Senku; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Frances Walker (1978). Orion 7806-2 (2003).
Dett, R. Nathaniel, 1882-1943.
Canada-US.
In the bottoms. . In the bottoms. Juba dance.
vIIIn4.
In the bottoms. Honey.
v2n.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1091 (Senku; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Natalie Hinderas (1971). CRI 629 (1992, Natalie Hinderas
plays music by African American composers).
Monica Gaylord. Music & Arts Programs of America 737 (1993,
Piano music by William Grant Still ).
El-Dabh, Halim, 1921-.
Egypt-US.
Coma dance.
vIVn4.
Mekta in the art of kita, Book 3. Basseet.
vIIn15.
Mekta in the art of kita, Book 3. Nin nawakht.
vIIn16.
Soufiane.vIn6.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Euba, Akin, 1935-.
Nigeria-US.
Four pictures from Oyo calabashes. Igbá kerin.
Awon abàmi eye; Supernattural birds. vIIn12.
Four pictures from Oyo calabashes. Igbá kìnni.
Akèrègbé baba emu; The gourd master of the palm wine.
vIIn13.
Scenes from traditional life, no. 1.
vIIIn8.
Peter Schmalfuss. Elekoto Music Centre EMC LP
001 (1989, Piano Music of Akin Euba).
Kay, Ulysses, 1917-1995.
US.
Invention, no. 2.
IIn2.
Tender thought.
v1n2.
Monica Gaylord. Music & Arts Programs of America 737 (1993,
Piano music by William Grant Still ).
Kwame, Robert Mawuena, 1954-2004.
Piano piece, no. 1.
vIn5.
Labi, Gyimah, 1950-.
Ghana.
Six dialects in African pianism. The lotus.
vIVn7.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1091 (Senku; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Michael Leslie. MP3: http://cdtracks.com/bid540455.html.
Lamothe, Ludovic, 1882-1953.
Haiti.
La dangereuse, meringue haitiènne.
vIIIn3. William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music
by Composers of African Descent).
Ndodana-Breen, Bongani, 1975-.
South Africa.
Flowers in the sand,
vIVn3.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Nketia, J. H. Kwabena, 1921-.
Ghana
Twelve pedagogical pieces. Volta fantasy.
vIIn11.
Bulsa work song.
vIn13.
Artis Woodehouse (2011). On line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO1IpC8U64s&feature=related.
Okoye, Nkeiru.
US.
Dancing barefoot in the rain..
vIn10.
Dusk.
vIn4.
Artis Woodehouse (2011). On line:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=yUCjRPwmwQg.
Onyeji, Christian, 1967-.
Nigeria.
Oga; Maiden's game.
vIIn7.
Ufie III.
vIn14.
Osman, Ali, 1958-.
Egypt.
Afro Arab blues.
vVn4.
Perkinson, Coleridge-Taylor, 1932-2004.
US.
Toccata.
vIVn6.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent)
Michael Kim. CRI NWCR 823 (2007, A la par).
Pradel, Alain Pierre, 1949-.
Guadeloupe.
Sept pièces créoles.
Pomme cannelle. vIIn14.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Price, Florence B., 1887-1953.
US.
Dances in the canebreaks. Nimble feet.
vIIIn10.
Dances in the canebreaks. Ticklin' toes.
vIn8.
Dances in the canebreaks. Silk hat and walking
cane.
vIIn9.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Roldán y Gardes, Amadeo, 1900-1939.
France-Cuba
Preludio cubano.
vIIn8.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Roux, Isak, 1959-.
South Africa.
8 Preludes in African rhythm. Township guitar.
vVn5.
Kwela, no, 1.
vIn1.
Lullaby.
vIn11.
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1245 (Asa; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Russell, Oswald, 1933-.
Jamaica-Switzerland.
Jamaica dance, no. 2.
vIIIn5.
Humoresque, no. 1.
vVn2
Papillons.
vIIIn12.
Paul Shaw. (Le grand tour; Paul Shaw plays Caribbean art
music). [On line: Jamaican pianist, Paul Shaw, discusses
Oswald Russell, Three Jamaica dances, for piano; 2. Andabte
moderato, at the College of the Bahamas. http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/3GxE3MVm671/search/paul-shaw).
Scherzinger, Martin, 1969-.
South Africa.
Tumbling dance.
vVn8.
Smith, Hale,1925-2009 .
US.
Faces of jazz. Off-beat Shorty.
vIn7.
Faces of jazz. My scarf is yellow.
vIn3.
Aguilar-Delgado Duo [arrangement] Protone
Records (From Juon to jazz).
Swanson, Howard, 1907-1978.
US.
The cuckoo.
vIIIn7.
Monica Gaylord. Music & Arts Programs of America 737 (1993,
Piano music by William Grant Still ).
Uzoigwe, Joshua, 1946-2005.
Nigeria.
Four Nigerian dances. Nigerian dance, no. 1.
vIIn4.
Talking drums. Egwu amala.
vVn6.Talking
drums. Ukom.
vIVn2
William Chapman Nyaho. NSR 1091 (Senku; Piano Music by
Composers of African Descent).
Vindu, André Bangambula, 1953-.
Congo-
China.
Lullaby.
vIn12.
Walker, George, 1922-.
US.
Prelude and caprice.
vIVn1.
George Walker. Albany TROY 523 (2002, George Walker in
concert).
Wheatley, Andrés, 1916-.
Dominican Republic-Virgin Islands-France
Scherzino.
vIIIn9.
Work, John Wesley, III, 1901-1967.
US.
Appalachia. Take me back.
vIIIn1. US
Scuppernong. At a certain church.
vIIn10. Natalie Hinderas (1971). CRI 629 (1992, Natalie
Hinderas plays music by African American composers).
This page was last updated
on
March 5, 2022
